Pressbox

Stuttgart (pts034/05.10.2011/16:40) - The Interpellets exhibition opened its doors today, making the New Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre the central meeting point for the international pellet and wood-fired heating industry. Here, 112 exhibitors will showcase the entire spectrum of pellet technology in an exhibition space measuring 7,000 square meters until October 7. The event organizer, Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim, is expecting around 5,000 visitors to attend over the three exhibition days. The 11th Pellets Industry Forum, which has been in full swing since yesterday at the International Congress Center Stuttgart (ICS) of the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre, provides a forum for discussions between pellet experts covering all the industry's hot topics and trends. A total of 450 attendees from 37 countries are expected at the event.

From large boilers for industrial concerns, through boilers and stoves for domestic use, to storage systems, entire production plants and tiny replacement parts: The international wood pellet fuel industry is presenting itself in all its variety at Interpellets 2011, starting today in Stuttgart. Over the next three days, 112 exhibitors will showcase the entire spectrum the industry has to offer. "After a year's break, Interpellets is once again making a clear statement about how important the topic has become for foreign markets. This year, 48% of exhibitors are from outside Germany, a development which underlines the fact that Interpellets is increasingly becoming the international industry meeting point. This year we are pleased to welcome exhibitors from 21 countries, some of which - Estonia, Russia, China and Ukraine for example - are represented this year for the first time," explains Markus Elsässer, CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH.

Accompanying program provides high-caliber, informative events
Municipal and commercial energy officers, specialist planners, tradesmen, housing industry players and private building owners who are interested in biomass heating systems can this year take advantage of the "Consultation Forum on Biomass Heating Systems". The forum gives them the opportunity to obtain free, vendor-neutral advice from experts concerning planned or existing projects, or to find out more basic information about high output biomass heating systems and subsidization. Consultation sessions can be arranged at short notice at the event by visiting booth 4.610.

The free HVAC Forum "Getting started in the pellet business", aimed primarily at tradesmen in the field, is intended to provide more in-depth information along with comprehensive practical advice and experience. The HVAC Forum is taking place daily at the exhibition from 10:00am-12:30pm at the exhibitor forum in booth 4.530.

The subject of "Networking" is also given pride of place at Interpellets. In order to provide information and a forum for discussion on the huge potential of the pellet market in Ukraine and Russia, a Russian/Ukrainian B2B networking service is being offered at the exhibition. Exhibitors and visitors at Interpellets are able to arrange meetings here between 10:00am-4:00pm, and interpreters are on hand for the Russian, German and English languages. A Canadian B2B networking event at booth 4.129 also invites visitors to find out more about what the Canadian market has to offer and to forge important contacts.

On Friday, October 7, 2011, from 12:00pm onward, Michelin-star chef Harald Wohlfahrt will demonstrate his culinary skills on the pellet barbecue in the Rothauspark (directly opposite hall 4). After the barbecue show, a panel discussion will take place at the Interpellets Forum, during which visitors can enter a prize draw to win a pellet barbecue.

Positive development in the European market - excellent prospects for Germany
In past years, the European market for pellets and pellet heating systems has undergone dynamic development. The EPC anticipates that over 20 million metric tons of the fuel will be used in Europe by 2015. The figure already hit 10 million in 2010. With a production quantity of 1.75 million metric tons, Germany was the 2010 European market leader. "It is clear that everything is in place for us to see positive development in Germany: 88% of all German heating systems are over 10 years old, and will therefore need replacing in the near future owing to their low efficiency. Pellets offer the perfect alternative to the fossil fuels oil and gas. They are CO2-neutral and, in comparison, are consistently 40% cheaper than fuel oil, and noticeably cheaper than gas," says Martin Bentele, CEO of the German Wood Fuel and Pellet Association (DEPV). As Germany has large stocks of wood at its disposal, supply is also secure in the long term.

The full Interpellets program is available at: http://www.interpellets.de/index.php?id=11&L=0
For further information, please visit: http://www.interpellets.de and http://www.pelletsforum.de

Organizers and partners of Interpellets 2011 and the 11th Pellets Industry Forum:
The Interpellets 2011 exhibition and the 11th Pellets Industry Forum are organized by Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim. Partners of the events are the German Wood Fuel and Pellet Association (DEPV), the German Solar Energy Society (DGS) and the European Pellet Council (EPC).

Sponsors of the 11th Pellets Industry Forum:
ANDRITZ Feed & Biofuel, Esbjerg/Denmark
Bühler GmbH, Braunschweig
DIEFENBACHER GmbH, Eppingen
DIN CERTCO Gesellschaft für Konformitätsbewertung mbH, Berlin
EWK Umwelttechnik GmbH, Kaiserslautern
Fagus-GreCon Greten GmbH & Co. KG, Alfeld/Hannover
FireStixx Holzenergie GmbH, Vilsbiburg
FRAM Renewable Fuels LLC, Richmond Hill/USA
HAAS+SOHN OFENTECHNIK GMBH, Puch bei Hallein/Austria
Kleeschulte GmbH & Co. KG, Büren
PRODESA Medioambiente, Zaragoza/Spain
Schellinger KG, Weingarten
SALMATEC GmbH, Salzhausen
SHT Heiztechnik aus Salzburg GmbH, Salzburg-Bergheim/Austria
Solarfocus GmbH, St. Ulrich/Steyr/Austria

Organizer contact:
Solar Promotion GmbH
Martin Pfränger / Barbara Pilz
Postfach 100 170, 75101 Pforzheim, Germany
Tel. +49-(0)7231 / 58 59 8-0
Fax +49-(0)7231 / 58 59 8-28
info@interpellets.de, http://www.interpellets.de

Press contact:
Iris Funke
fischerAppelt, relations GmbH
Infanteriestraße 11a, D-80797 Munich, Germany
Tel. +49-(0)89 / 747466-221
Fax +49-(0)89 / 747466-66
ifu@fischerAppelt.de

Submitter: Solar Promotion GmbH Contact: Martin Pfränger Phone: 07231 - 58 598 - 0 E-Mail: ifu@fischerAppelt.de Website: www.interpellets.de